Fall of Berlin Wall's 30th Anniversary Sparks Conference on Migration at University of Richmond

March 8, 2019

2019 marks the 30th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall, a historical event that changed the political, social, and cultural face of Europe. A conference at the University of Richmond will bring together academics from around the world to address the European immigrant experience, both then and now.

“Migration: The Contested Spaces of the Mediterranean” will be held March 24-26 in the Carole Weinstein International Center Commons. The event is free and open to the public but registration is required.

“In recent years, an increased influx of migrants and refugees into Europe has raised questions about how to approach migration and resettlement challenges,” said Lidia Radi, associate professor of French and Italian. “Using the fall of the Berlin Wall as a historical reference point, this conference aims to explore the motivations that push people to leave their country of origin and the struggles they face in their journeys.”

The conference will feature keynote lectures, panel sessions, documentary films, and live interviews. Italian authors Anilda Ibrahimi and Ubah Cristina Ali Farah as well as directors Luca Sella, Andrea Onori, and Fred Kuwornu will discuss their work in various sessions throughout the event. University of Richmond students and faculty will be central to the conference, participating as moderators, translators, and panelists.

A detailed schedule of events and registration details are available online.

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